Waha Nui

The USTA Hawaii Advanced Junior Tennis team from Kailua made an impressive showing at the recent national championships in South Carolina, winning the Team Spirit Award. Coach Pam Nakaso was not surprised: “They’re incredibly friendly, making friends with every single team they played against,” she told USTA.com …

Castle High’s award-winning dance ensemble will entertain Kahala Mall crowds at 4 p.m. Saturday, followed by St. Anthony School’s choir at 4 p.m. Dec. 6, and St. Anthony pianists at noon Dec. 7 … It’s official: Kailua CPA Jonathan Town-sley is the new chief financial officer for the YWCA of Oahu, after being the interim CFO since March and a longtime volunteer … Teacher Bev Vierra says students from Gotemba Minami High School in Japan are visiting Castle High now and will shadow Knights Dec. 4 in three of their classes …

Speaking of Castle, freshman Sydney O’Neal and junior Robert Sigel earned October Artist of the Month awards from teacher Casilda Rippard for their attendance, participation, final project grade and citizenship in drawing and painting class … If you missed award-winning sculptor Kaili Chun‘s 8-foot-tall steel cages set up at Waimanalo Beach Park Nov. 30 of last year for “Veritas II,” you can see photos of them through Dec. 14 at Ii Gallery in Kakaako (343-0240) …

There may be a few trees left to sell at St. John Vianney School this Saturday, so you’re welcome to call Annie Chee at 261-4651 or stop by that day … Kalaheo High got its ping pong table; now Lanikai Elementary’s junior kindergarten needs a cassette-CD player, To help, call Kathie Wells of Community Helping Schools at 225-2621 …

Children’s Miracle Network champion for a year Ikaika Kaahanui, 9, had a great time in D.C., last month with the 49 other CMN champions. The Waimanalo boy visited President Barack Obama in the White House and met celebrities like Nick Cannon and Marie Osmond. In his new ambassadorial role, he also enjoyed DisneyWorld …

Kailua law firm Hartley & McGehee hopes to collect at least 1,200 pounds of donated food (like last year) for Hawaii Foodbank in its sixth annual food drive. Their doors are open right now at 40 Aulike St. #314, with the help of partners Systems Engineer, Doonwood, The Fix, Drake Properties and Kailua Professional Buildings 1 and 2. Call Eileen Tortuga at 263-6900